News &AMP; Events

from Ian Macleod Distillers

Glengoyne Slows Down

27th September 2010

Following a recent 25% increase in case sales Glengoyne has announced a new long-term marketing initiative based on the concept "SLOW", and is to invest upwards of £1m in the campaign drive over the next two years.

The campaign is centred on Glengoyne's distillation speed, which is SLOWER than any other Scotch Whisky. Glengoyne attributes its high quality, smooth tasting malt to its slow distillation, which is about one third the normal rate.

SLOWLY distilling the spirit allows more contact with the copper stills, removing unwanted sulphur which can result in bitterness and encouraging the formation of esters creating Glengoyne's distinctive apple fruitiness. The increased copper interaction also helps draw more flavour from the slowly handcrafted Spanish Sherry oak casks during maturation.

The campaign is supported by Glengoyne's Ten Slow Truths, a set of facts that are central to life at the distillery and clearly set out why only the SLOWEST distillation process, untainted by peat smoke creates Glengoyne - The Real Taste of Malt. The Slow Truths contain facts about Glengoyne's distillation and maturation processes, as well as insights into life at 'Scotland's most beautiful distillery'.

The Slow Truths have been handed down over the generations at Glengoyne, and the wisdom imparted to every visitor. By sharing the Slow Truths Glengoyne is encouraging drinkers to adopt a slower lifestyle, helping them to slow down, take things easy and spend time appreciating the finer things.

A new advertising campaign keeps the message simple and eye catching, highlighting the core Slow Truths and positioning Glengoyne in a unique way, sustaining its point of difference.

Greg Buckley of STORM-RDA, one of the creative teams behind the initiative, said of the campaign: "Slow is a simple, bold articulation which communicates a core product truth. Our campaign brings this truth to life via a series of 'Slow' communications showing how taking your time and doing everything properly creates quality, both in product and in life.

"We are bombarded with thousands of commercial communications every day. In order to cut through, marketing messages need to be simple, relevant and engaging. Slow is a powerful philosophy that sets Glengoyne apart from all other Scotch Whiskies."

Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers said: "The Slow philosophy has worked well for Glengoyne for over 175 years, as great recent sales figures show. We have mastered the art of producing the Real Taste of Malt, using methods handed down over the generations, including the slowest distillation process of any Scotch whisky distillery. Slow is about taking the time to do everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible, quality rather than quantity is at the heart of everything the distillery does.

"Our creative teams have been working hard on effective communication of this important message, to both current and potential Glengoyne drinkers. There are still many exciting stages of the campaign to be revealed."

Further initiatives will continue to be rolled out, slowly, with a number of multi-platform creative elements planned for the next two years. Rebranding of the website and online shop www.glengoyne.com has already started and is expected to be completed, by award winning digital agency The Weather Digital, by the end of the year, depending on how SLOW they take it...

1. Glengoyne has the SLOWEST distillation process of any Scotch Whisky. The spirit trickles from our stills at about one third the normal rate. This spirit creates the highest quality and smoothest tasting Single Malt Whisky - The Real Taste of Malt.

2. Our barley SLOWLY germinates on the malting floor before being air-dried, rather than dried using peat smoke. The result is a rich, complex whisky in which all of the flavours are allowed to fully express themselves without being masked by smoke.

3. We nurse the spirit through the stills SLOWLY, simmering it to ensure it spends more time in contact with copper. This removes unwanted sulphur, which can result in bitterness.

6. We take our time over every aspect of our process. SLOW creates quality, not quantity and is at the heart of everything we do.

7. SLOWLY distilled spirit is rich in copper, which interacts with oak to draw more flavour from the cask during maturation.

8. Our oak casks are also prepared SLOWLY. They spend two years drying in the Spanish sun and over two years absorbing Oloroso Sherry, before they are filled with Glengoyne, the world's SLOWEST distilled Scotch whisky.

9. Nothing is ever rushed at Glengoyne. Once filled, our casks are SLOWLY rolled into place to begin their long sleep.

10. The best way to appreciate the quality of Glengoyne is to drink it SLOWLY. Sit back, relax and savour the subtle flavours. Glengoyne should never be rushed. Always drink responsibly.